SOFTBALL BEATS NORTHERN COLORADO; CONCLUDES TOURNAMENT WITH 4-1 RECORD
3/16/2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State right-hander Brittani Clifford pitched five innings of scoreless relief, and Hilary Johnson and Teri Ann Caoagan each had two hits and an RBI to lead the Hornets to a 4-2 victory over Northern Colorado in the fifth and final round of the Capital Classic Softball Tournament.
The Hornets finish tournament play with a 4-1 record, including victories over Princeton, Colorado State and 19th-ranked Ohio State. Sacramento State’s only blemish was a 2-0 loss to 11th-ranked Oklahoma yesterday. By virtue of being the only undefeated team in tournament play, Cal wins the Capital Classic championship with a 5-0 record. Both Sacramento State and Oklahoma went 4-1.
The Hornets moved their overall record to 14-11 despite five of their last nine games being played against teams ranked in the top 25.
A number of Sacramento State players were impressive during tournament play, led by Whitney Loomis’ three home runs, nine RBIs and an .842 slugging percentage. Clifford was 2-0 with a save and a 0.00 ERA after allowing just five hits with eight strikeouts in 11.2 innings. Rachel Miles (.538), Hilary Johnson (.500), Izmena Cabrera (.474), Jamie Schloredt (.333) and Loomis (.316) each hit better than .300 for Sacramento State during the tournament.
In today’s victory, Clifford was inserted into the game in the second inning and proceeded to shut down the Bears the rest of the way. Sacramento State broke a 2-2 tie in the fourth inning when Johnson singled home Kayla Meeks for what proved to be the game-winning run. The Hornets added one more run in the fifth on an RBI-single from Caoagan which scored Cabrera.
Clifford improved her record to 5-4 with the victory, while Northern Colorado’s Hillarie Van Otterloo (2-9) took the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) and 10 hits over 7.0 innings.
Miles, Johnson, Cabrera (2-for-4 with a stolen base and two runs scored) and Caoagan (2-for-4 with an RBI) each had multiple-hit games for the Hornets. Johnson improved her hitting streak to five games, while Loomis had a double and an RBI. Jenice Bartee, who started in right field for the Hornets, made a diving catch with a runner at second and two outs to preserve a scoreless tie in the first inning.
After playing 21 straight games away from its home field, Sacramento State finally returns home to the friendly confines of Shea Stadium next week. The Hornets will host non-conference doubleheaders against both Wisconsin (Wednesday, March 19, 1 p.m.) and Pacific (Friday, March 21, 1 p.m.).
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State right-hander 
